Land port to elevate logistics abilities

Fueled by the thriving China-Europe Railway Express service, the international inland port in Shijiazhuang, the capital city of North China's Hebei province, is poised to elevate its global multimodal transport services and capabilities, aiming to further enhance the efficient, high-quality, and top-tier operations of the China-Europe freight trains.

"As a key hub for inland port logistics in North China, the Shijiazhuang International Inland Port is continuously broadening its international route network," said the port's general manager Liu Jinpeng.

According to Liu, the port initiated over 800 China-Europe freight train services last year, a remarkable year-on-year growth of 30.7 percent. This expansion has solidified its prominent position in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, he added.

At a State Council Information Office news conference held on Friday, it was revealed that the cumulative operation of China-Europe freight trains has surpassed 100,000 trips nationwide.

Introduced in the country in 2011, the China-Europe Railway Express operates as a vital container train service connecting China, Europe, and related countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. This service plays a crucial role in fostering economic and trade cooperation among nations and in driving forward the Belt and Road Initiative.

The train service offers international container rail services with fixed schedules, routes, and departure times.

Inland ports like the one in Shijiazhuang serve as crucial transportation hubs situated in interior regions, playing a significant role in facilitating the transport of goods between interior regions and international markets.

A China-Europe freight train loaded with machinery and daily goods departed from the Shijiazhuang International Inland Port for Moscow on Wednesday, marking the inaugural run of the China-Europe freight train launched by the port in the new year.

Cui Ziliang, a station dispatcher with four years of experience at the port, expressed his enthusiasm, citing the increased frequency of freight train services, growing container numbers and expanding variety of goods.

"The China-Europe freight trains are effectively linking the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region with overseas markets," Cui said.

Liu said the port had seen several milestones last year such as the first direct China-Europe freight train service from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei to Serbia, with overseas centers set up in key hubs like Hungary and Serbia.

Currently, the port operates 18 international routes spanning over 50 countries and regions across Asia and Europe, including Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, France, Finland, Central Asia and ASEAN countries, according to Liu.

Over 50 percent of the goods exported through the freight trains belong to strategic emerging industries, positioning the port as a crucial frontier and a driving force for integrating Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei into the Belt and Road Initiative.

"The hub functions of the inland port have been strengthened," Liu said, emphasizing its role as a pivotal link for logistics and trade, along with notable advancements in functionality and service enhancements.

By effectively integrating the functions of the China-Europe freight trains with bonded logistics, the port continues to reduce operating costs for international trade, providing convenience and benefits to import and export enterprises while creating new avenues for development within the international inland port sector, Liu added.